Combination step-ladder



(No Model.) -2 sham-sheen 1] G. A. MILLER.

OOMBINATION STEP LADDER. No; 416,175; Patented Dec. 3, 1889.

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GUSTAVUS A, MILLER, OF BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINATION STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 416,175, dated December 3, 1889.

Application filed September 12, 1889. fierial No. 323.759. (No modeh) I To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, GUSTAVUS A. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Butler, in the county of Butler and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Combination Step-Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to a combination-ladder, and among the objects in view are to provide a ladder that can be used as a step-ladder, each of the sections of which is capable of being used as a separate ordinary ladder and of being combined to form an extension-ladder, and to accomplish the above in a simple, cheap, and convenient manner.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective of a ladder constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being in the form of a step-ladder. Fig. 2 represents my invention converted into an extension-1adder.- Fig. 3 represents a perspective of one of the head-castings. Fig. i is a similar view of one of the lockingpawls. Fig.

5 is a detail in side elevation showing the upper end of the two ladders in position.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

1 represents the-step-ladder section, which may be of any desired well-known construction, but which in this instance comprises opposite side bars, each of which, for the purpose of lightness, consists of two light bars connected together at their upper and lower ends, and intermediate theirends they are slightly spread apart and provided with a series of steps 3. The side bars 2, are connected at their upper ends by the usual crown-piece or cap 4, forming the top step, and are braced at their rear sides or edges by longitudinal strips 5, connected at their upper ends to about the center of the side bars 2 and to the series of steps 3 below the same, whereby a rigid yetexceedingly light laddersection is provided.

0 represents what I herein term as the head-casting, of which there are two, each one being applied to the outside and upper end of each of the side bars, to which they are bolted. They are also secured to the under surface of the crown -piece. These castings (3 consist of a base portion 7, bolted to the crown-piece of the ladder, and are extended at a right angle from their base to form an arm 8, terminating at its upper end in a socket 9 and at its lower end in an L- shaped arm 10, and to one side of the arm is provided a flange 11, through which .are insert-ed bolts 12 into the side bars 2 of the section. By reason of the angle at which the crownpiece is located upon the side bars it will be apparent that the castings will the disposed at an oblique angle to the side bars.

13 represents the secondary or supporting ladder-section, and the same consists of op posite side bars 14 and a series of rungs 15. The upper ends of the side bars .14: are reduced and inserted through the L-shaped arms 10 of the head-castings and into the sockets 9 at the upper ends thereof, and are thus maintained at an acute angle to the side bars 2 of the ladder-section 1, whereby the two ladder-sections conjointly form a stepladder. Now, by withdrawing the ends of the ladder-sections 13 from the sockets in the upper ends of the head-sections, it is apparent, by reason of the L-shaped recesses, that the secondary ladder-section may be arranged parallel with the main ladder-section and the ladder set aside when not in use. By taking the parts in this position it is also apparent that the secondary ladder may he slid upwardly in the L-shaped arms, so that its upper end will be projected above the crownpiece of the primary section 1, and thus will be formed the extension-ladder of near twice the length of the step-ladder.

16 represents a pair of gravity lockingpawls, which are pivoted, as at 17, to the inner sides of each of the side bars 14: of the secondary section, and near their lower ends these pawls have forwardly-projecting ends 18, adapted to bear upon the rear upper edge of either of the steps of the main ladder-section and terminate at their rear ends in laterally-disposed lugs 19, which limit the Vertical swing of the pawls and serve, when their forward ends rest upon the steps of the main ladder-section, to support the secondary ladder at any desired elevation upon the main ladder, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. By this arrangement it is apparent that the two may be combined to form longer or shorter ladders, as desired.

20 represents stops, which project from the upper ends and outer faces of the side bars of the secondary section, and are designed to preventan undesired or accidental withdrawal of said section from the head-castings, though it is apparent that the terminals of the secon d.- ary section may be compressed or contracted, so as to permit of the withdrawal, whereby either of the ladder-sections may be used perfectly independent of the other.

The strips 5 serve another function other than mere braces. It will be noticed that they are parallel from end to end and separated by a space equal in width to the secondary ladder, whereby they also act as guides when the secondary ladderis being slid upon the main ladder.

In order that the secondary ladder may be constructed as lightly as possible and yet be rigid and strong, I provide each of the sides thereof with a longitudinal groove 12 along its edge, and in the same locate and securely fasten wire rods of sufficient strength and rigidity.

Having described my invention,what I claim 1s 1. The combination, with a step-ladder, of opposite head-castings secured at the upper ends of the same and provided with an upper socket and a lower L-shaped embracing-arm, and a secondary section mounted loosely between the arms of the castings and adapted to be inserted in the sockets or slid by the same, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination, with a step-ladder, of opposite head-castings secured at the upper end of the same and provided with an upper socket and a lower L-shaped embracing-arm, and a secondary section mounted loosely between the arms of the castings and adapted to be inserted in the sockets or slid by the same, and pawls pivotally connected with the lower ends of the secondary section and provided with stops adapted to limit the movement, the forward ends of the pawls being designed to bear upon one of thesteps of the main section, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with the main laddersection having the crown-piece at its upper end, of the opposite pair of l'ierein-described head-castings, consisting of an upper base bolted to the crown-piece, and having a socket and a lower depending arm terminating in an L-shaped recess and bolted to the sides of the section, and a removable ladder-section em-- braced by the L-shaped arms and adapted to be removed therefrom and slid therein, and having its upper ends reduced to enter the sockets of the castings, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of a step-ladder section with the herein-described opposite head-castings terminating in their lower ends in L- shaped arms, and with the supplemental section mounted looselyin the arms provided with opposite lugs at its upper ends adapted to prevent the withdrawal from the arm, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with the main ladder and the strips 5, secured thereto and termi nating near the middle thereof, of the supplemental ladder connected in an extended manner to the main ladder and having the lower ends of its rails terminating between the strips, substantially as specified.

G. In a combined step and extension ladder, the combination, with the step-ladder section 1, having the longitudinal strips'5, connected at their upper endsto the side bars of the section and at their lower ends to the steps thereof, of the extensible laddersection 13, mounted to slide between the strips, substantially as specified.

7. In a combined extension and step ladder, the combination, with the step-ladder section 1, of the herein-described head-castings secured to the upper ends of the same and formed with a socket 9, an embracing arm 10, and the extensible section 13, mounted loosely between the castings and adapted to he slid in and out of the sockets 9, but engaging the embracing-arm at all times, as set forth.

8. In a combined extension and step ladder, the combination, with the step-ladder section 1, of the herein-described head-castings secured to the upper end of the same and formed with a socket 9, an embracing arm 10, and the extensible section 13, mounted loosely between the castings and adapted to be slid in and out of the sockets 9, but engaging the embracing-arm at all times, and the pawls 16, pivoted to the section 13 and adapted to engage the section 1 whenthe parts are extended, as set forth.

9. 'lheherein-described casting, comprising the base portion 7, the socket 9, and the laterally-extending L-shaped arm 10, all formed in a single piece, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAVUS A. MILLER.

\Vitnesses:

ANDREW MILL J12,

A. E. REIBER.

IIO 

